An easy, practical and in-sequence itinerary planner I have travelled the length and breadth of India, and am truly proud of its rich and varied heritage. I am amazed by the tradition and values, the people, festivals, celebrations and the changing landscape. Have you wondered if it's possible to travel across India completely? Most foreigners arriving in India, land in Delhi and then travel the Golden Triangle route first- which is a good decision incase you have limited time at hand and want to make the most of it. The Golden Triangle- Delhi, Agra and Jaipur includes the much hyped Taj Mahal which invariably is part of a tourist's bucket list. This blog on the other hand- is a sequential strategy and detailed 'been there done that' itinerary plan starting from Mumbai. I am sure as we go through this Journey you will understand India better. My experiences are based from the perspective of a - digital nomad, budget backpacker and from a local standpoint. Each Itinerar
PONDERING IN PONDICHERRY- TOP 5 THINGS TO DO
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Apparently, we had a few trivial things to settle in Chennai before leaving the city and moving on with our next spiritual pursuit. So after done having that..🚘
This is going to be a rather long journey. The plan is to cover all other important places of worship in Tamilnadu, and finally culminate Pilgrim's Route 3 at Bangalore.
Lina, our friend from Bangalore was excited to hear that, and we too were looking forward to meeting her soon, so we sent the bulk of our luggage to her place to make things easy for the journey.
Pondicherry is a smooth and easy 64km/ 1.40hr bus ride from Chennai, with excellent bus connectivity from Koyambedu, along ECR (East Coast road).
PONDICHERRY: TOP 5 THINGS TO DO (blog)
Time to ponder and rest
PONDICHERRY is to India's East Coast, what GOA is to the West Coast~ Carefree and signs of a colonial past that became part of India much later than the rest of the country. This was French territory until 1st Nov, 1954.
Politically, PONDICHERRY is a UT (Union territory) comprising Puducherry, Mahé in Kerala, Karaikal further south in Tamilnadu and Yaanam on the coast of Andhra Pradesh. All these places are disconnected geographically.
It was dad's idea that we take a break from touring temples for a while. I couldn't agree more. We certainly needed a change of scenery. I could get a hair spa and watch a bunch of movies too.
Where to stay in PONDICHERRY
We found Sri Aurobindo ashram's New Guest house much to our liking and budget. It has by far the best location bang on the beach. Sri Aurobindo properties are especially meant for those who are here to visit the ashram and for a spiritual purpose. No alcohol or non-vegetarian food is permitted in the premises. It's an austere and peaceful environment.
The charming Sri Aurobindo ashram's New Guest house at Rue Romain Rolland
In case you're here to chill, like any tourist-friendly place, Pondicherry too has a wide range of hotels, guesthouses and backpacker hostels in every price range. So take your pick.
TOP 5 Things to do in Pondicherry
< Day 1 >
#1 Explore the French Quarter
Hire a bicycle or simply do a walking tour, gazing at the elegant French buildings of a bygone era. The French Quarter's most iconic landmarks are~
The Old Lighthouse and French War memorial
Stop by The Dupleix, or take a break at Le Cafe, which was once a port and customs house
the balcony of a charming French home at PONDICHERRY
Browse through the pages of history at :
Ecole Française d'Extrême-Orient
Pondicherry museum and library
Admire the architectural beauty of :
The Palace of the Governor
Churches such as Notre Dame des Anges and Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Cathedral
And many more...
#2 A leisurely evening walk along the Promenade
There's a nice warm buzz at the Promenade on weekends ~ kids playing, families and friends taking a leisurely stroll or just sitting along the beach. People laughing and having a good time. "Where are you coming from?" I asked a bunch of friends. "Chennai" they replied. "Most people here are weekenders from Chennai."
A beautiful evening at The Promenade, PONDICHERRY
We just sat there enjoying the sea breeze and the smell of the salty air with the sound of waves hitting the shore.
Pondering in PONDICHERRY
# 3 Indulge in Food and Drinks
Pondicherry is tourist-friendly and has some great restaurants and cafes that serve continental food. From wood-oven pizzas to delectable French cuisine, beside not to mention tax-free liquor.
A cheezy veg pizza
< Day 2 >
Reading a crisp newspaper in the garden at Aurobindo ashram's guest house, PONDICHERRY
#4 Be a Beach 🏖️ bum
Pondicherry's top 2 beaches are SERENITY BEACH & PARADISE beach. So pack some snacks and drinks and head to the beach.
< Day 3 >
#5 Discover AUROVILLE
In the words of the Spiritual Mother of AUROVILLE
Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity.
Matrmandir meditation hall at AUROVILLE
Do book your trip to the Matrimandir a day in advance. They have an orientation center at the entrance where visitors can know more about AUROVILLE. Spend a few hours here to soak in the ambience of the place. There are some interesting cafes where you can break for refreshments. Do check out AUROVILLE bakery on your way back.
Thanks for reading. Your comments will be appreciated. If you have any questions do comment and I'll be happy to answer. Bye!
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